Friction-clutch



W. G..PR|CE.

I FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION msn APR.4.191s.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

FIG.1

9 m2 f if WMU. are. a0- o/o 9 .2 0 Po Z UNITED STATES WILLIAM G. PRICE, 0F YAKIMA, WASHINGTON.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Application led April 4, 1918.

To all whom z'zf may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM Gr. Peron, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Yakima, in the county of Yakima and State of lVashington, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Friction-Clutches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to friction-clutches either of the cone or disk type connected to the driving and driven-shafts to transmit power from one shaft to the other.

The object of my invention is to provide a friction-clutch of the above type which shall eliminate the sudden gripping or grabbing which ordinarily take place in a clutch of this type and which overstrains the shafts and transmission gears as used in automobiles.

To these ends my invention comprises, generally stated, a driving-shaft, a driven shaft, and a clutch of either the frictionbearing cone or the disk friction-bearing types, means for bringing said bearings into pressure contact, and means for permitting one of said disks to rock on its bearing on the said shaft whereby the speed of the driven-shaft is slowly or quickly raised to that of the driven-shaft practically without shock.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of my improved clutch as applied to the double-disk type; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-e2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of my invention as applied to a cone-clutch; Fig. 5 isa longitudinal section of the same as applied to a multiple disk clutch, and Fig. 6 shows a modified form of my invention.

in the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a driving-shaft. driven by any suitable motor or engine and fixed to such shaft is the collar 2. The disk 3 is fastened to the shaft 1 and is held against rotation on said shaft by the keys 1l, said disk being held from movement on said shaft in one direction by the collar 2.

The disk 3 has a conical bore which i'its neatly at its inner end 6 around the shaft 1, but at its outer end T is flared so as to permit the said disk to rock on said shaft, for

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. ZE, 1921. Serial No. 226,560.

the purpose more fully hereinafter set forth.

The keys 4- are T-shaped and their heads fit snugly within seats 4f* formed in the shaft 1, while their outer portions engage seats Ll", but said outer portions form a tight-fit in the seats a-b only at their ends at 6 and taper in width and .height from that point outwardly so that, as shown in Fig. 1 at the point 7, there is suiicient play in the seats 41 to allow the disk 3 to rock on the shaft and still hold said disk from rotation on said shaft.

The disk 3 is provided with the bearingsurface 8 at its outer circumference.

The disk 9 is fitted closely to the shaft 1 but is free to slide and revolve on said shaft, and said disk has the bearing-surface 10 which registers with and is adapted to press against the bearing-surface 8 of the disk 3 when the clutch is in operation.

The spring l1 which surrounds the shaft 1 abuts on the collar 12 which is fixed to the shaft 1 and presses against the annular shoulder 13 on said disk 9 to bring the bearing-surfaces 8 and l() into frictional contact.

The disk 9 has the lugs 14 which are bolted to the lugs 15 of the sliding collar 16. The collar 16 is provided with a groove 17 and in said groove is the ring 18 provided with the lugs 19 which are engaged by the forked-lever 20. The lever 2O is fastened t0 the fulcrum piece 21 which is fixed to the frame of the automobile. The lever 20 is provided with the foot bearing-surface 22.

Pressure applied to the lever at 22 relieves the clutch bearing-surfaces 8 and 1() from frictional pressure. The sliding collar 16 carries the universal joint 23 which is con nected to and drives the shaft 24.

In practice I have found' that when the disk 3 is rigidly fixed to the shaft 1 and the disk 9 is a close bearing sliding fit on the shaft l, the clutch may talie hold with great force when only a light pressure is applied, which strains the shaft excessively and moves the automobile with ajerky motion. rhis is due to slight imperfections in manufacture or to wear of parts.

By my construction with one or other of the bearings of 'the disks 3 or 9, so that they can rock on the shaft 1, the clutch will take hold smoothly and not strain the shaft or end movement.

'the bolts 7a to the collar S@ which is keyed jerk the automobile and slight imperfections in manufacture and .much wearing of parts will not cause the clutch to grab suddenly.

For the entire success of my improved clutch, it is necessary that the bearing of the disk 3 be a close fit on the shaft at the end ofthe bearing at 6 and that this close fit at 6 be approximately in the plane ofthe 'disk surfaced. 1f the disks 3 and 9 were provided with absolutely perfect cylindrical close-fitted bearings on the shaft l and with the plane ofthe disk surfaces absolutely non mal to the shaft, such a clutch would operatesmoothly, as long as the faces of the disks remain parallel and true, but if the friction faces of the disksV should become irregular through wear or other causes,the disks will tend to spring and 4be moved eccentric to their normal plane when brought into frictional engagement, thus causing the clutch to"grab77 and jerk the'automobile.

In Fig. Ll l have shown my invention as applied tor an ordinary cone clutch. v

In Fig. 5 1 have illustrated my improved clutch in connection with a multi-ple Vdisk clutch in which a 'number of thin disks are interposed alternately between the disks a and 9a, one-half of these interposed disks being connected to thedisk 3, the'other half connected to the disk 9 in the usualinanner [of `constructing disk clutches.

Fig. V6 is a section through a multipledisk clutch in which l.:L is the drivingfshaft and 2a is thediiven-shaft. The shaft 2a has a j ournal 2h` which bears in the end portion of the shaft la. The shaft 2L has a flange 2c which engages a ballbearing which rests against the plate-6a and holdsthe shaft 221 against The plate 6a is secured by rigidly tothe shaft 1?. The annular piece 9a is also secured to the Collard@ by the bolts 7a' and carries the bolts 10i which support the disks 9b. The piece 9a has the disk bearing surface 9C. The disks Scare interposed'between'the disks 9b and are supported by the V lugs 25 which @are a part of trie annular piece 26. The` piece 26 has the disk surface 261.

Y The piece 26 carries the clutch-ring 18 and i lugs 18bi which are engaged by thele'ver 2O2L Vto release the clutch.

The spring 2Ob rests j against the nut 27 and against the piece 26 'and acts to forceall of the dis.; friction surfaces into contact.

j The piece 26 has a square tapered hearing 28. The shaft 22 has the square portion 29 which engages the bearing 28. The bearing 28lslides on the square portion of the shaft 29. The tapered bearing 2S fits the shaft closely at the end 28a and is separated from the shaft at the end of the bearing 30. v

By my invention, therefore, 1 obtain a friction clutch in which the sudden grip-ping or grabbing of the clutch is eliminated as Well as the strains on the' shafts and trans- 'ing'fabout ayllineradial of its axis to l its axis. A

tact' with each other, and means'fo'r permitting one of said disks to oscilla-te on its beaa just itself angularly with respect to its normal axis.

2. In 'a frictinclutch, a drivingshaft, a driven-shaft, driving and driven disks securedto said shafts, respectively,fsaid disks ting one of said disks to freelyo'scillate on its shaft about any line radial of its axis so as to automatically adjust itself angularly with respect to its normal axis, Vvthe axisfof said oscillation beine' approximately 'in-the planeofits friction ace.

3. In a friction clutch, a drivingesh'aft, a driven-shaft, driving and 'driven disks *icarried by said shafts respectively, said( disks Ahaving annular friction faces-one of 'sa-id disks vhaving a bearing on its shafttting closely to said shaft in the plane of its fri`ction face, and 'fitted -loo'selyiat the other'end of its bearing 'whereby it is capableof oscillatin'g-on its 'shaft about'any line radialof et. In a friction-clutch, 'adriving-fshafQa having annular friction faces, means for j Vbrir'lging said Vdisks into frictional face contact' with each other, and means for 'permitioo driven-shaft, driving and driven disks secured to said shafts, respectiveland means for bringing said disks-into facecont'act with eachother, oneof 'said disks having aconical bore whereby' said disk'is 'freetto oscillate on its shaft about any line radial of its axis.

5. In affri'ction clutch, a'drivinglshaft, a driven-shaft, a driving disk 'and a vdriven disk secured to said'shafts, respectively,- said #disks having 'annular friction faces, 'one of said disks vhaving a "conical bore, rthe smaller end of said bore tting closely' to the vshaft of `the said diskl adjacent to the friction face 'of the other disk, whereby the disk lhaving the said conical bore is freeto'oscillate onitsy shaft. Y,

6. In a. friction clutch, a drivingeshaft, a driven-shaft, a driving disk and a driven disk secured to said shaftsrespectively,one of Vsaid disks having a conical bore, a key engaging seats formed in said driving shaft, and saidkey having atapered portion engaging endof said key at the smallerrend of said conicalboreforming a tight fit therein. j 7. In a friction clutch, aA driving shaft, a

driven shaft, a driving Ydisk and a driven disk secured to said shafts respectively,one

a seat formed in said conicalbore, the

mamon 3 of said disks having a conical bore and a. In testimony whereof I the said WILLIAM klyftengging seats formled in one of said G. PRICE have hereunto set my hand.

s a s ac jacent to the sai( conical bore, said key having a ta ered portion engaging a WILLIAM G' PRICE' 5 seat formed in Said conical bore, the end of Witnesses:

said key at the smaller end of said conical O. N. WAL'rz bore forming s, tight fit therein. ARTHUR W. OFFIN. 

